The Gospel Quartet Tradition
The Centennial Singers grew out of the tradition of gospel quartet summer tours starting in 1885 on behalf of Augsburg. In 1895 a gospel quartet toured Norway presenting 50 concerts. Over the years approximately 50 quartets toured, mostly in the Midwestern States, culminating in 1961. Quartet tours to Norway were in 1885, 1895 and 1961.
During the 1992 Augsburg Homecoming a group of former quartet singers got together and decided to form a chorus by recruiting additional former quartet singers. The plan included organizing a tour of Norway to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the tour by the 1895 quartet. Thus, the Augsburg Centennial Singers choir was born.
Mission
Reflecting the Gospel Quartet tradition at Augsburg University, the mission of the Augsburg Centennial Singers is to present concerts that personalize a Christian faith, to encourage listeners to establish and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, and to provide a fellowship for men who find joy in singing songs that have musical excellence, address the heart, and reflect a variety of musical traditions.
End of an Era
Since its founding, more than 170 men have been members of the choir. Many members have continued singing well into their later years, with today’s choir including men in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. As longtime members have retired, recruiting new singers has become increasingly difficult.
After much thoughtful consideration, the Augsburg Centennial Singers have made the difficult decision to conclude their remarkable 34-year journey at the end of the 2026 fall season. Throughout those years, they have remained faithful to their mission of being “Men of Faith Passing on the Faith Through Songs of Praise.”
The choir’s final concert will be held at First Lutheran Church on November 8, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., providing an opportunity to celebrate the choir’s rich legacy of faith, fellowship, and music. (See the Schedule page for a complete listing of concerts for the fall season.)